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Preliminary work on upgrades to interchanges before council
manteca city logo
The City of Manteca seal as it is today without the original cross atop the rendering that initially was meant to represent a place of worship in “The Family City.”

Manteca is getting ready to take the next step in a multi-year process to upgrade and widen the Main Street as well as the Airport Way interchanges on the 120 Bypass.

Caltrans signed off on the initial review in April to allow the projects to proceed.

The City Council on Tuesday is being asked to authorize spending $3 million — $1.5 million for each interchange — to conduct the Project Review and Environmental Document phase.

Congestion relief funding from the Measure K half cent county road and transit tax is being used to cover the cost.

The city is essentially duplicating the diverging diamond design at Union Road along with a separate pedestrian crossing to eliminate pedestrians needing to cross at off and on ramps.

When the two interchanges are in place, the 120 Bypass will be the only location in California with three consecutive diverging diamond interchanges.

The first one in the state was the one built at Union Road.

The state’s second diverging diamond interchange is now under construction on Interstate 580 in Tracy.

Safety experts —  as well as their counterparts that address traffic flow and congestion issues — like diverging diamonds.

The reasons they give includes being easy to navigate, eliminating last-minute lane changes, and providing better sight distance at turns. All of that results in fewer crashes.

But if has another advantage Manteca leaders appreciate just as much.

They can be built with significantly less money.

That is especially true along the 120 Bypass where a traditional cloverleaf interchange would require taking out existing homes and businesses  to the north of the freeway and then acquiring land to the south.

And given the existing overpass structure can be used as part of the diverging diamond, demolition costs are kept at a minimum.

It also means a shorter time frame for construction that also saves money.

While the safety and congestion reduction advantages are huge in the city’s estimation, Manteca leaders indicate the fact it saves money on construction is just as important.

 

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com